LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Wow!! Here is the HIT on suggestions for thank-you gifts for
volunteers. Obviously some are for the media center volunteers in
particular while others are for "whole school" thank yous. Also,
some ideas are for the beginning or end of the year and some are
for holiday time.
Thank you to *you* for
contributing to this collection of ideas!!
THE LIST:
-tickets for local movie theater
-small photo album
-wooden candle holder with candle
-homemade chocolate candy
-travel mugs
-potted plants from the biology/greenhouse dept.
-luncheon
-community gimmies
-T-shirts, purchased or screen painted by adults or students
-pocket calendar for marking volunteer days :-)
-mugs
-volunteer pins
-books
-write to that person's favorite author/actor/ice skater/etc. and get
a personalized, autographed picture and frame it
-gift certs to local eateries
-gift cert to school cafeteria for volunteer days
-home baked goodies
-bring extra lunch on their days
-keep Mt. Dew in media frig for the volunteer who *really* likes it
-cook book of favorite recipes of the staff members
-tea with cake and punch; most of the staff shows up
-candy bar such as "100,000 Grand" and a "We think you're Grand" note
-a mini pot of thyme and "Thanks for your Time: note
-breakfast prepared by staff
-gift certs to two volunteers w/most hours
-door prizes at the breakfast (donated by merchants and staff)
-entertainment at breakfast by chorus
-small tote bag made by home ec class
-apple pin
-bumper sticker
-names of all volunteers listed in full-page ad in local paper
-pot luck dinner for volunteer and family prepared by staff
-potted geranium
-gift cert to Pizza Hut
-gift cert to book store
-hanging baskets
-wind chimes
-pewter key chains
-lunch with child; give corsage; decorate cafeteria for the event
-snowman Christmas ornaments with little books glues to their "hands"
-disposable cameras for helping to make the learning center "picture perfect"
-gold wrapped candy "You're worth your weight in gold"
-name brand brush and comb sets for "helping us to look neat"
-hand knitted slippers for "relaxing with a good book" after working so hard
-any kind of candy "You've been so sweet to help us out"
-basket with noodles and sauces; "Let me help you with dinner tonight since you've
helped us so "
-gift cert to local bath store...again for relaxing after their "free"
aerobic class (stretch and bend while shelving books!)
-microwave popcorn and gift cert to local video store
-jars of homemade apple butter
-framed picture of their child reading a book
-plants in decorated pots
-ornaments with their child's picture
-to my house for brunch
-reception with cookies and punch during school hours and until 5PM
-district gives token gift with an imprint of the district such as luggage tags, key
rings, magnets, etc.
-poinsettia at holiday time
-tea or brunch with theme (Beach Party this year); teachers do
all the food; invitations go home with *every* student so
no one is left out; everyone signs in and names are drawn
for door prizes
-blank recipe cards tied with ribbon and top one saying "Recipe
for a Wonderful Volunteer"
-dedicate a book to the library using a bookplate with volunteer's name on it
-small book bags bought at annual book festival
-very small fanny packs filled with treats (for student volunteers)
-small flower pots painted in school motif (rulers, blackboard, apple,
etc), filled with peppermints, wrapped in cellophane and tied with bow
-container or pretty mesh bag tied with ribbon and filled with
Hershey's HUGS and KISSES
-plant for summer garden in decorated terra cotta pot (to remind
them all summer how much we'll need them in the fall!)
-simple luncheon of chicken salad, fruit salad, blueberry muffins,
lemon pound cake, iced tea
-homemade refrigerator magnets
-purse size hand creams from Bath and Body
-book marks
THE PARAGRAPHS:
School Board donates a library book in their name. I print a
beautiful inscription that reads something like "Donated by the
Board of Education in appreciation of the dedication of much-loved
school volunteer Jane Smith, 1998." Then I display all the books
at a volunteer's tea where snacks are provided by TEACHERS.
Their children are the first one's allowed to check out books.
I pick out all the books and try to get them to match at least s
ome part of the personality of the volunteer.
I'm interested--since it's my job to coordinate the Volunteer
Appreciation Reception at our school. We have over 125
volunteers to recognize. The teachers prepare refreshments,
the principal covers the paper goods (we get really nice
plates, napkins and tablecloths), and a part of the school
budget is set aside for token gifts for each volunteer. Last
year we did "guardian angel" pins for all of them, with an ink
pen with a guardian angel cap for our 12 top volunteers, and
the top volunteer received a plaque. This year we are looking
at keychains, with a totebag for the top volunteer (who has 400
hours this year already)! It's tough finding something inexpensive
enough to go around for a hundred people, without looking cheap,
if you know what I mean.
Volunteer tea held in our gym that was transformed into a beautiful
tea room! The committee begged and borrowed huge palm plants
from individuals and nurseries to create a section just inside the gym
door so that the rest of the gym was barely visible. They had lovely
table decorations and a HARPIST playing in the background. It was
amazing what they did!
I give my volunteers a "Library Volunteer" mug from ALA graphics.
I gave them these at the beginning of the year and they have kept them
at school to use while working. Here at the end of the year, I will give
them a gift certificate to a local restaurant that is very popular. We
will also recognize them at an all-school assembly.
For several reasons we have given up the annual "volunteer tea"
so looked for some token of appreciation that could be *mailed*
to each volunteer. This year we are making photo magnets of
each volunteer's child holding a sign that says "Thanks Mom!"
or "Thanks Dad!" or just "Thanks!". We are taking the photos
using regular film and then cutting the picture to fit on those
magnets made to put business cards on. (Available at Staples
or Office Depot; the size of a business card with one side having
a peel-off paper with "sticky" under it). These will go inside a
computer generated, staff-colored card that says "Everyone
thanks you for volunteering at our school" and inside
"Especially..." and the magnet is attached under this.
We figure the cost will be $1.00 each including the stamp.
--
Sally Lantz mailto:sarahl@ccpl.carr.lib.md.us
Media Specialist
West Frederick Middle School
Frederick, MD 21701
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message to
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
* NOTE: Please allow time for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help & Archives see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Archive Home